In March, authority over the satellite export issue was returned to the U.S. State Department from the Commerce Department. Since then, the State Department has been criticized for not allocating sufficient resources to handle the licensing process, resulting in delays of several months in the granting of the export approvals.

"The State Department is trying very hard to issue licenses, but they are understaffed and overwhelmed," said Clayton Mowry, director of the Washington-base Satellite Industry Association, which monitors issues affecting the satellite makers.

Tough new language passed by Congress last year to guard against possible illegal technology transfers in space system exports is also being blamed for the export crunch, which some have suggested may cost the U.S. commercial space industry billions in lost sales.

The association and others in Washington are attempting to add $11 million to the budget for the State Department Defense Trade Control office for the hiring of new licensing officers as well as more computers.

Mowry said that there is also hope that legislation may pass the Congress before year’s end that would expedite licensing for time sensitive applications as well as for U.S. NATO allies.

The proposed laws would also assist U.S. satellite makers in sales to non-NATO allies that are friendly to the U.S. as well as other countries. "We hope that in the near term we won’t miss any procurements or contract deadlines because of delays," he added.